Silversun Pickups built one of the biggest, strangest sounds in 2000s alternative rock, then somehow survived the pressure that destroys most bands.

From the Silver Lake scene to Pikul, Carnavas, “Lazy Eye,” “Panic Switch,” Grammy recognition, political controversy, addiction, recovery, health scares, and their long-running original lineup, this documentary tells the full story of how Silversun Pickups became one of modern rock’s most unlikely survivor bands.

This is not just the story of one hit song. It’s the story of a real band that came out of the underground, broke through with a wall of fuzz, fought to stay independent, and refused to turn into a nostalgia act.

Featuring the story of Brian Aubert, Nikki Monninger, Joe Lester, Christopher Guanlao, the rise of “Lazy Eye,” the success of “Panic Switch,” their fight with the Mitt Romney campaign, Brian’s sobriety, the making of Widow’s Weeds, Physical Thrills, and the band’s continued evolution.

Silversun Pickups didn’t just survive the 2000s alternative rock explosion.

They stayed themselves.

0:00 - Intro
2:22 - The Airplane Story
4:15 - Silver Lake Before It Got Cleaned Up
6:38 - The Fuzz Wasn’t a Gimmick
8:27 - Pikul and the First Real Scar
10:02 - Carnavas and the Door Blowing Open
12:01 - The Follow-Up Trap
14:06 - “Panic Switch” Goes Political
15:24 - Neck of the Woods and the Darker Room
16:51 - Owning the Machine
18:31 - The Body Keeps Score
19:59 - Widow’s Weeds and the Signal Coming Back
21:21 - The Pandemic Record
22:42 - Tenterhooks and the Hospital Bed
24:15 - The Band That Didn’t Turn on Itself
25:47 - Why “Lazy Eye” Didn’t Trap Them
27:32 - Closing